Physical Care Skills
61%of exam
Psychosocial Care Skills
13%of exam
DementiaBehaviorCulturalEnd of Life
Role of the Nurse Aide
26%of exam
Infection + Safety
15%of exam
NJ Regulations + Scope
5%of exam
NATCEPNJ RegistryReportingRenewal
Quick Facts
- Credential
- NJ CNA
- Training
- 90 hrs NATCEP
- Hours split
- 50 class + 40 clinical
- Written
- 60 questions
- Time
- 90 min written
- Pass written
- 75%
- Skills
- Handwash + 4 tasks
- Order
- Skills first
- Admin
- PSI for NJ DOH
- Registry
- NJ Nurse Aide
Hypertension vs Hypotension
Hypertension
- 140/90 or higher
- Headache risk
Hypotension
- Low blood pressure
- Dizzy on standing
Too high vs too low
Skills Test Picker
- Skill begins→Hand hygiene(Always first)
- Any resident contact→Provide privacy
- Before transfer→Lock all wheels
- Resident stands→Apply gait belt
- Resident has weak side→Support weak side
- Feeding resident→Sit upright first
- Measuring output→Use graduate
- Skill complete→Call light in reach
- Leaving room→Wash hands again
Adult Vital Ranges
- Oral temp
- 97.6-99.6 F
- Pulse
- 60-100 beats/min
- Respirations
- 12-20 breaths/min
- BP normal
- Below 120/80
- Hypertension
- 140/90 or higher
- Pulse ox
- 95-100% normal
- Axillary temp
- Reads about lower
- Apical pulse
- Full 60 seconds
Active vs Passive ROM
Active
- Resident moves
- CNA encourages
Passive
- CNA moves joint
- Resident cannot
Self vs assisted
Positioning
- Supine
- Flat on back
- Prone
- On stomach
- Lateral
- On side
- Fowler
- Head 45-60 degrees
- Semi-Fowler
- Head 30-45 degrees
- Sims
- Left side, knee bent
- Reposition
- At least every 2h
- Alignment
- Support natural posture
Transfers + Mobility
- Lock wheels
- Bed and chair first
- Gait belt
- Around waist, snug
- Stand on count
- Tell resident plan
- Strong side
- Leads in transfer
- Cane
- Hold on strong side
- Walker
- Move walker first
- Dangling
- Sit before standing
- Ambulate
- Stay on weak side
Range of Motion
- ROM goal
- Prevent contractures
- Flexion
- Bend the joint
- Extension
- Straighten the joint
- Abduction
- Move away from body
- Adduction
- Move toward body
- Rotation
- Turn around axis
- Support joint
- Above and below
- Pain stop
- Never force motion
ADLs + Personal Care
- Privacy
- Curtain, door, drape
- Bath water
- About 105 F
- Wash eyes
- Inner to outer corner
- Perineal care
- Front to back
- Dress weak side
- Into sleeve first
- Undress strong side
- Out of sleeve first
- Oral care
- Brush teeth, gums, tongue
- Diabetic nails
- Nurse trims, not CNA
Nutrition + I&O
- Feed position
- Sit upright 90 degrees
- Aspiration
- Food into airway
- Dysphagia
- Trouble swallowing
- Thickened liquid
- Safer swallow
- Small bites
- Allow full chew
- NPO
- Nothing by mouth
- I&O
- Track intake, output
- 1 ounce
- About 30 mL
Dementia + Behavior
- Validation
- Acknowledge the feeling
- Reality orient
- Use with mild confusion
- Sundowning
- Late-day confusion
- Wandering
- Keep resident safe
- Agitation
- Lower noise, stay calm
- Routine
- Builds security
- Catastrophic
- Reduce stimulation
- Do not argue
- Redirect gently
Resident Rights
Privacy, dignity, choice, safety.
PrivacyDignityChoiceSafety
Objective vs Subjective
Objective
- You observe
- Measured vital
Subjective
- Resident states
- Pain report
Seen vs said
Communication
- Open question
- Invites detail
- Closed question
- Yes or no
- Active listening
- Attend and reflect
- Nonverbal
- Body language counts
- Aphasia
- Loss of language
- Hearing loss
- Face, speak low pitch
- SBAR
- Structured nurse report
- Documentation
- Objective facts only
Abuse vs Neglect
Abuse
- Intentional harm
- Physical or verbal
Neglect
- Care omitted
- Needs unmet
Harm vs omission
Resident Rights
- Privacy
- Body and information
- Dignity
- Respect, address by name
- Choice
- Honor preferences
- Refuse care
- Right, then report
- Confidentiality
- Need-to-know only
- Grievance
- Voice complaints freely
- Advance directive
- Documented care wishes
- NJ ombudsman
- Resident advocate office
Report vs Record
Report
- Tell nurse verbally
- Condition change
Record
- Chart the facts
- Care performed
Tell vs chart
Abbreviations
- ADL
- Activity of daily living
- ROM
- Range of motion
- BP
- Blood pressure
- I&O
- Intake and output
- NPO
- Nothing by mouth
- PPE
- Personal protective equipment
- DNR
- Do not resuscitate
- PRN
- As needed
- ac / pc
- Before / after meals
Fire RACE
Rescue, alarm, contain, extinguish.
RescueAlarmContainExtinguish
Sterile vs Clean
Sterile
- No microorganisms
- Nurse procedures
Clean
- Reduced microorganisms
- Most CNA tasks
Free of vs fewer germs
Precaution Picker
- Any resident→Standard precautions
- MRSA, C. diff wound→Contact
- Influenza, pertussis→Droplet
- TB, measles→Airborne(N95)
- C. diff present→Soap and water(Not ABHR)
- Body fluid risk→Gloves
- Splash likely→Gown plus goggles
Hand Hygiene
- Soap friction
- At least 20 seconds
- Fingers down
- Hands below elbows
- Before contact
- Clean hands first
- After gloves
- Wash hands again
- Clean nails
- Scrub under tips
- Turn faucet off
- Dry paper towel
- ABHR
- Hands not visibly soiled
- Recontamination
- Do not touch dirty
Extinguisher PASS
Pull, aim, squeeze, sweep.
PullAimSqueezeSweep
Precautions + PPE
- Standard
- Every resident, always
- Contact
- Gloves plus gown
- Droplet
- Surgical mask close
- Airborne
- N95, negative room
- Don order
- Gown, mask, goggles, gloves
- Doff order
- Gloves, goggles, gown, mask
- Dirty linen
- Hold away from body
- Sharps
- Never recap needles
Safety + Emergency
- Bed low
- Locked when leaving
- Call light
- Always within reach
- Body mechanics
- Bend knees, wide base
- Push not pull
- Use leg muscles
- Restraint
- Only on nurse order
- RACE
- Fire response steps
- PASS
- Extinguisher steps
- Resident falls
- Do not move, call nurse
NJ Exam Order
Train, skills, then written test.
90-hr NATCEPSkills firstWritten 75%NJ Registry
When To Report Now
- Resident fall→Tell nurse first
- Chest pain→Report immediately
- Sudden confusion→Report immediately
- Skin breakdown→Report to nurse
- Abuse suspected→Report at once
- Care refused→Respect, then report
- Vital out of range→Recheck, report
- Choking→Call for help
NJ NATCEP + Registry
- NATCEP
- NJ approved training program
- 90 hours
- 50 class, 40 clinical
- Skills first
- Then written or oral
- PSI
- Tests for NJ DOH
- NJ Registry
- Must be listed active
- 2-year valid
- Renew every 24 months
- Renewal work
- Min paid nurse aide hours
- Background check
- Required for certification
Common Traps
Handwashing skill
Always scored ≠ Avoid recontamination
Resident falls
Do not lift ≠ Call nurse first
Care refusal
Never force ≠ Respect and report
Perineal care
Front to back ≠ Clean to dirty
Diabetic nails
CNA does not trim ≠ Nurse handles
C. diff hands
Soap and water ≠ Not alcohol rub
NJ exam order
Skills before written ≠ Not same day
Last Minute
- 1.NJ NATCEP: 90 hours total
- 2.NATCEP split: 50 class, 40 clinical
- 3.Skills test before written exam
- 4.Written: 60 questions, 75% pass
- 5.Written time limit: 90 minutes
- 6.Handwashing is always scored
- 7.Lock wheels before any transfer
- 8.Dress weak side into sleeve first
- 9.Perineal care front to back
- 10.Refusal: respect, then report
- 11.C. diff: soap and water only
- 12.Falls: do not move resident
- 13.Document objective facts only
- 14.NJ certification renews every 2 years
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